Callum BradyThursday, September 19th, 2019 @12:30 am, Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. The Champions League returns this week and match day one throws up a mouthwatering tie between La Liga side Atletico Madrid and Serie A champions Juventus.

Our Betting Tips

Cristiano Ronaldo fired in four goals against Lithuania during the international beak and once again proved that he is the main goal scoring threat for club and country, and that could be why the bookies expect him to find the net again.

Both these teams have a well-stocked arsenal of firepower to call on in the attacking areas of the field after both boasting impenetrable defences in the past. The philosophy of both sides has changed recently from defence first to all-out attack and we could see goals in this one.

Best Odds

Statistics

Head to Head

These two sides last met in the Round of 16 of last season’s Champions League in the spring. Diego Simeone’s side won their home game 2-0, however the Bianconeri turned the tie around in Turin when a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick put the Old Lady through to the next round. Atletico have the better of the recent head to head between the two teams. They have won two of their last four meetings against Juventus, drawing once and losing once.

Stats

Atletico have won each of their last five home games in the Champions League, including wins over Juventus, Roma and Borussia Dortmund.

Juventus have failed to win any of their last three away games in the Champions League, losing to Young Boys, Atletico and drawing with Ajax.

Atletico have just lost once in their last 18 matches at home in Europe’s top competition going back to 2015, that sole defeat was a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in 2017.

Juventus have won just six of their last 12 games on the road in the Champions League, however they did draw three of those matches.

Our Prediction for Team vs Team

The match to end in an Atletico win.

Atletico splashed out the big bucks this summer in bringing Portuguese starlet Joao Felix from Benfica for around €125m to replace Antoine Griezmann who joined Barcelona. The Rojiblancos currently sit on top of La Liga and are in good form ahead of this one.

For Juventus, this is the first big test for new Coach Maurizio Sarri on the biggest stage, the former Napoli and Chelsea boss was brought in to guide the Old Lady to lifting the Champions League while playing an attractive style of football.

Callum Brady is an avid football fan and overly optimistic Leeds supporter #MOT! When he is not spotted visiting Elland Road, Callum spends his time following European Football, Rugby, and has recently taken interest in the NFL. A travel enthusiast, Callum is always looking for recommendations on where to travel based on football pitches to visit.